Newcastle University

A new virtual college designed to support schools in the Northumberland area has benefited from the work of four North East students who have helped to design some of its human resource management information. 

The students, who are currently undertaking Masters degrees in Human Resource Management and International Human Resource Management at Newcastle University Business School are working with Tynedale Virtual College to develop recruitment strategies and concise job descriptions for two upcoming posts and to research and write some of the college’s personnel policies.  

These work based projects are one of a number of consultancy projects that students at the Business School are undertaking in order to achieve their Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) qualification.

When it opens Tynedale Virtual College will offer a range of vocational courses covering topics such as health, social care, hospitality, environment and construction, and is a collaborative venture between high schools, colleges and work-based training companies in west Northumberland.  

Graham Sinclair, project director from Tynedale Virtual College said:

“Tynedale Virtual College was set up as a vehicle to help support schools in the Northumberland area – our mini-campus approach allows us to offer a host of vocational learning to students ages 14 and over.  Normally students above the age of 16 have to travel outside of the region to gain further education – we aim to bridge this gap and offer interesting and skill-based courses that will lead to long-term employment.  

“As part of the development we are creating a £4 million creative and media skills centre and will require two radio and television technicians and a projectionist.  The Newcastle University Business School students have been hard at work researching the roles and developing accurate job descriptions that will be invaluable in finding the right employees.  It is also essential to have a robust personnel policy in place before our recruitment drive steps up a gear in time for our launch. 

“The consultancy projects are mutually beneficial; the placements are centred around employer requirements but they also offer students a great opportunity to gain experience of a real-life work environment.  We would definitely work with the Business School again and are even looking into potentially taking placements in marketing and accountancy as well as HR in coming years.” 

Once complete, the virtual college will link with Prudhoe School, Ponteland High, Queen Elizabeth High at Hexham, Haydon Bridge Community High, Priory School in Hexham, Dilston College and Northumberland College.

It will provide a variety of state of the art facilities including a computer room, TV and radio studios, a media centre and office space for start-up businesses, as well as providing structured courses for students with learning difficulties.  

Xiao Wan Zhao, a current Human Resource Management student added:

“Having worked in customer services for a number of years in my home country of China I was keen to move into human resources.  Newcastle University Business School was highly recommended to me by a university advisor and I thought the course was a good balance of theory and practical training. 

“The consultancy placement with Tynedale Virtual College is the first time I’ve been able to apply my HR training to a practical project so it was a good opportunity to carry out some valuable work experience, meet a lot of interesting people and understand business practice in the UK.”